Topic: Base Spell List for the "God of Needlework"

[B Hanson]

For those that don't follow Rolemasterblog.com, Peter and I have been having a discussion regarding some recent posts and the Channeling Realm.

http://www.rolemasterblog.com/perfect-spell-law-look-like/

The pertinent comment of Peter's

"On the other hand if as a GM you give priests added base lists to reflect their gods domain such as Fire Law to priests of the god of fire (Which I think is a good thing!) then your fireball hurling priest is a damn sight more powerful than a priest of the god of needlework."

I decided to take the challenge and create a spell list for Clerics of the "God of Needlepoint". It is attached Peter, for your perusal. Some thoughts:

1. While it was done slightly tongue in cheek, I think it's actual got some utility for a "Witch" or "Hearthmage".
2. I think more could be done with the needlepoint crafting magic--maybe a whole other list.
3. I started the list with the "Animated Needle" spells. Obviously I've ripped off Yondu's "Yaka Needle" from Guardians of the Galaxy. Still...I may to have to use this in my campaign. Imagine a frail old women knitting in her hut...and then she is threatened....

Anyway--don't tell me that an old boring Fire Law Cleric is better than this!

[jdale]

Some fun ideas there but a lot of important specifics are missing, e.g. what is the OB for Animated Needle?

I think the point is fair that not all spell lists are of equal potency, but that's a consideration for proper spell list design. This one seems fairly potent but it was written to be powerful not necessarily to reflect a deity. I would think a spell list actually intended for a god of needlepoint would have a bunch of spells that aid in crafting, which would be useful for that god's followers but not necessarily useful in combat or more generally for adventuring. I mean, there are no spells on this list that actually aid needlepoint in any way. On the other hand, few settings have gods with such tiny and tightly defined spheres of influence.

[gog]

of course the spell to allow for speed sowing with the auto needle, linked to the one that makes air tight stitches, would have no combat application 

[B Hanson]

Stitching wounds..I think the God of Needlepoint could have 2-3 Base Lists.

[B Hanson]

I did this in a few hours on a lark with Peter, but now I'm thinking there are some solid ideas here!  But, back to the remainder of Charon base lists and then Mentalism.

[Peter R]

I cannot remember which version of spell law it was but there used to be a sentence that said the spell lists in spell law were not all the possible spells but rather just the ones most useful for adventures. Or something roughly along those lines.

With that in mind, the above list is perfect as a base list for an adventuring PC who was a cleric of that god/goddess. In my outline for the same list I did include a sutures set of spells with the same effect as the Clotting spells as was suggested above. I also suggested using the Stun cloud spells but as a Needle Cloud doing puncture criticals. My current face to face game is very hack and slash and consequently my suggested variation was very combat oriented.

[egdcltd]

How about a spell list for the goddess Anoia?

[Spectre771]

That is simply FANTASTIC!

It's pretty accurate in terms of Spell level and power/ability at the given spell level.  I can easily see each of those spells working.  Maybe a little "a-la-Disney" with some "bippety-boppety-boo STAB!" thrown in there. 

The list is really good!   I can see one of my players using the list.  All we need is some extensive playtesting to balance the levels out.

I can see at least two lists here as crochet uses a single needle with a 'barbed' or hooked end (similar to a tiny harpoon) and tend to be quite small, and knitting  which uses two longer needles, straight and smooth.  Knitting needles can range from smaller than a pencil to the thickness of small PVC pipe.  And I supposed one could argue it could fall under Two Weapon Combat too. 

Material Knitting:  Caster is now able to knit with heavier materials as if they were yarn.  Rope, wire, light chain.  Imagine knitting AT-13 chainmail.  Sweet!

Work Materials:  Caster has the ability to spin materials into threads suitable for knitting; Work steel, copper, silver, gold, Mithril into yarn suitable for knitting.

Defensive spell list too. 

Knitting Needle Deflect:  Knitting needles float in front of cast and spin  to deflect incoming ranged weapons = 5 ranks of Yado.

Spell reflect:  Knitting needles spin so quickly they have a defense bonus to reflect 25% directed spell damage back to caster.  This percentage reflect increase with higher level spells. 

We can work out the specific wording over tea and crumpets tonight by the fireplace.... say 7-ish?

OMG.  Do you see what you've started here? 

Some fun ideas there but a lot of important specifics are missing, e.g. what is the OB for Animated Needle?

I would argue that it is Directed Spells skill as the caster is making an attack at a target.   

[Spectre771]

After further thought.... I want these spell lists!  I can already see a "Professional PC - Seamstress" in my campaign!  Semi-spell user or Pure Spell user?

Who would suspect the Seamstress?  There was an interesting movie called Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy.  (1979 and 2011)  Why not the Seamstress?

[Peter R]

It is the ease and speed with which new spells and entire lists can be created that makes me put so much weight on spell research for all my players. Almsot every NPC in my world that is a spell caster has unique spells of their own creation. I have organisations that have their own spells created for them.

My face to face game is RMC using RAW which means for example that rangers could not research spells but there is no rule against a pure or hybrid caster researching an open or closed channelling spell and then teaching it to a ranger.

Even the best rules lawyer cannot start to deduce the level and the lists known to a caster when they cannot identify the spells being cast.

[B Hanson]

Here is the list in Excel in case anyone wants to play around with it. I keep getting sidetracked and want to finish the Gods of Charon base lists and get the Mentalism spells up!

Although I'm going to do a Halloween themed list this week for fun. Maybe "Summon Creepy Clown"?

[Spectre771]

Although I'm going to do a Halloween themed list this week for fun. Maybe "Summon Creepy Clown"?

I sent Redd Skeleton against my group one time.  It's in one of the C&T books from RM2.  Attacks with pies in the face and bad puns.  I spoke to each of the players secretly and had them believe they were in on a secret attack that was going to happen to someone else in the group and I needed really bad puns and undead jokes.  It was as painful for me to say as it was for them to receive. LOL  Might be a good time to resurrect him again.